Ashen Hand

Ashen Hand

Private HTR
The front and the last line the enemy will see
"Either you got a job for me, or you can fuck off."
Owner's Discord Name	TidanShock#tidanshock
Connection	4
Public Contact?	Yes
Archetype	Custom (A,G,N,K)
Location	Bellevue, Seattle
Metatype	Elf but not (VERY hard to tell, looks almost exactly human)
Gender	Male
Awakened/Emerged	Mundane
Age	33
Preferred Payment Method	Nuyen
Hobbies/Vice	Bonsai Tree Maintenance/Action Enjoyer (media)
Personal Life	Single
Faction	???
Aspects	First Hand Knowledge Military Grade Cold Mind Cold Heart Status Report I work with professionals act like one. Up your Arsenal Urban Warfare Special Forces Ware and warfare

Overview

Ashen Hand's past is known only to a VERY select few. Most of those select few by accident or obligation. All that is clear and known is his SIN has him listed as "Fredrickson Belov" and that he has spec-ops/HTR level training. Having the skills and wisdom akin to those who have been in the profession for several years. A seemingly cold and near emotionless individual but one with a strong code. Those who follow him do so for their own reasons but whatever the case is he is doing something right to have the job and position he has. The head of his own small PMC that deals in small groups of HTR level operatives for hire. While expensive as drek, he and his employees have yet to disappoint.

Ashen Hand is often seen working with the Shadows, under the table of course but the very few that do know bring this to his face. Those that do bring it up to extort him... usually don't last long or forget why they are there and how they got two black eyes accompanying a broken arm. He often searches the shadows and hires those within it for assistance in particularly dangerous missions or to see talent that has the potential to do great things. To go beyond runs that involve just stealing from gangs and syndicates or killing their notable members. To find those that can perform great feats only the best are truly capable of.

As far as the public knows, Fredrickson Belov is a man who had the finances to open up his own small business/PMC along two others. One known as Veronica Neilson and the other, one Ezekiel Kennedy. The nickname/callsign Ashen Hand as it seems came from a job where upon him and his men found a room full of feral infected. After molotoving the room and setting it ablaze they thought they were safe till several surviving ferals emerged from the room covered in ashes and charged the team. Fredrickson used his shield and body to protect the others as the front line while the others did what they could to help him. Eventually the threat was dealt with. And covering Fredrickson's armor was hand prints of ash. From there, the nickname stuck.

The small business/PMC he has opened has been given the name of "Black Bear" due to certain events witnessed during a run in Ohio. Despite Black Bear being a small business, ironically the business they deal in is anything but. Recruiting several individuals current or former HTR level to be freelance agents for different buyers. Said buyers often having their own reason to recruit HTR level mercenaries for security or raids. Often for house security after a viable threat had been made or if valuable data had been stolen from themselves, or the corp/organization they work for. Black Bear's prices are expensive of course but so far they have yet to receive a poor review. A more affordable HTR for very select missions as opposed to a full time task force.

Though rumours are abound about the Black Bear business. Who is backing and supporting it? How are they attaining so much high quality ware and equipment? Yes some donations and contracts give funding of course but not to the extent it would be profitable and supplied to the level it is. The answer, in his own words is "their first name is Nanya, their last name is business, and their middle name is fucking. Now are you here for a job or do you want to get out?" He tends to be... irritable, as many have seen. But when paid for a job, or when taking care of his team, Ashen Hand is second to none when it comes to getting things done.

Notes for GMs

When it comes to the aspect "I need backup!" do note the member that is sent will be on par with HTR operatives. Aka highly competent as a result, on par with most normal runners if not exceeding them (slightly). If you feel as though this would throw a massive wrench in the run do discuss this with the player and find a solution that seems best. Not all HTR are built the same after all and sometimes the office is too busy to deploy members. Them's the break chummer, maybe he'll thrown in a discount for next time. (He won't.)

Aspects Description

Aspect	Description
Cold Mind, Cold Heart	Even Ashen Hand himself admits he is a hardass. While he will bond with his team and learn to trust them while on missions, outside of that getting close to him is... difficult. It can be done, but trying to do so without a broken bone is a tedious task. Ashen Hand's loyalty cannot be raised above 2 outside of runs.
I work with professionals, act like one.	Ashen Hand prefers loyalty and effectiveness above all else with those he works with. Any ways in which a mission can go south is something he prefers to avoid. Double the penalty given by notoriety for any rolls made by Ashen Hand.
First Hand Knowledge	Having trained besides and having fought some of the most skilled personnel in current deployment amongst nations and corporations, Ashen Hand knows spec-ops like the back of his... hand. +2 to any checks that involve HTR level opfor.
I need backup!	Having seen them himself and worked alongside them Ashen Hand knows that all that work for Black Bear are among the best and they don't come cheap. If a runner requests it Ashen Hand can deploy some of the members of Black Bear to aid runners in their escapades. To do this the runner must pay 10k nuyen and owe Ashen Hand 2 chips. If a runner has loyalty 1 or 2, Ashen Hand will be willing to send a street sam or decker HTR member as backup. At loyalty 3 or 4, Ashen Hand will allow the runners to choose a rigger, adept, or mage. At loyalty 5 Ashen Hand will allow himself as an option. This quality must be called in near the beginning of the run aka planning phase and they must be allowed to know the details of it. The member deployed will meet up with the runners (if possible) and follow the orders given by the runner that employed them. If the member deployed dies on the mission make a loyalty test threshold 3. If the test is failed lose one point of loyalty with Ashen Hand and owe an additional chip. This aspect is only available if the runner and the place the HTR member will be deployed are in Seattle or the SSC. You may also not use this aspect if you have negative chips with Ashen Hand.
Military Grade	Ashen Hand and the Black Bear company is equipped with among the best gear available for military personnel, equipment very seldom seen on the open or even black market. +2 to Gear checks made to acquire R or F gear.
Rules of Engagement	While he has had to break them for the good of his team or the mission, Ashen Hand appreciates those that stick to guidelines and conduct themselves accordingly. Not letting the harshness of the world destroy all the morals and/or loyalty left in people. If a runner has the Code of Honor quality, any roll made by Ashen Hand for them is made with a +1 bonus. This aspect stacks with the Candle in the Darkness quality.
Status Report	Being an HTR operative for most of his adult life, Ashen Hand knows first hand the impact proper recon can have on an assignment and how devastating it can be when done poorly. A couple times too many in his own words, and in thus he takes the time to do so properly. +2 to active checks made to survey an area or individual to gain information.
Up your Arsenal	Ashen Hand in the profession he is in has a know around of countless firearms. Mainly how to find them and how to use them in a rarely if ever seen precision. +2 to any checks made that involve firearms or the use of them.
Urban Warfare	While trained for any terrain and scenario, most active deployments of HTR (especially corporate) are in urban areas. Most combat in the 6th world is held in them if we are honest. And in such Ashen Hand has learned how to expertly navigate the concrete jungle as it were to gain the upper hand on his enemies. +2 to active checks if the request made would pertain to or be in an urban environment.

Dicepools

Dicepools
Knowledge Checks	3 + Loyalty + Aspects - Notoriety
Active Checks	13 + Loyalty + Aspects - Notoriety
Gear Acquisition Checks	9 + Loyalty + Aspects - Notoriety
Networking Checks	5 + Loyalty + Aspects - Notoriety

Network

Player Characters with this Contact

Name	Loyalty	Chips
Einheri	1	Even
Getaway	2	Even
Mirage	2	Even
Miut	1	-1
Red Ribbon	2	Even
Wayfarer	2	Even

NPC who know this contact

Raytheon

Narrative Significant Runs

Name	GM	Metaplot	Date of Run
Shenanrigans	TidanShock		13 July 2085